Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The real question is whether young people are obtaining a valuable education experience in transition year. In its original conception, transition year was designed to be an antidote or a contrast to the experience of swotting for the junior certificate examination. I have already made an announcement on the future of that examination. I have asked the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU, to consider the position on transition year and invite opinions from students, some of whom are in the Visitors Gallery. I would like to discover what students think of transition year. Are they of the view that it could be better or more structured or is it a waste of money? Do those who complete transition year have a great time? How would students improve transition year? Young people, particularly those who have just completed the junior certificate examination and are commencing transition year, are in many respects much better placed to inform us of what they do or do not like about the year. The relevant research shows that, by and large, young people who complete transition year - these individuals now comprise a large percentage of the total cohort of secondary school students - obtain better academic results than those who do not do so.

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